The Great Lakes are a bit below normal as far as ice cover for this time in January at only 2.9%. But similar to past years, a lot can change in just a matter of a couple weeks. The little tilted heart-shaped lake down by Detroit is Lake St. Clair, where I do a lot of my photography of frozen landscapes. Back in 2021 when I photographed blue ice on Lake St. Clair, total ice coverage was only at 12% in early February. Right now Lake St. Clair is largely ice free.
Most of the Great Lakes don’t reach their maximum ice coverage until the end of Febrary, so I have plenty of time to build up my cold tolerance before venturing out. The National Ice Center (yes, we have one of those!) is forcasting a normal ice cover season for the Great Lakes in general, but below normal levels for Lake St. Clair. You wouldn’t think it given such a low amount of coverage right now. But as recent years have shown us – a good cold snap in February is all that is needed to get the lakes to start freezing at least around the shorelines.
The featured photograph I included above is from 2021 from a short trip up the coast of Lake Huron that I just developed. I always liked how the horizon kinda disappears into infinity from that morning, symbolizing the vastness of the largest freshwater watershed in the world.
I look forward to your shoreline ice images every year and this did not disappoint, Mark. Worth the shivering.
I always enjoy seeing your ice photographs and I’m also always envious that you get to photograph those conditions so easily… (and I hope you’re envious of my desert photos, of course;-) but I’m absolutely not envious of the temperatures and added wind chill you’ll have to endure for those photos! 😀 I can hear the crunching of the crisp thin layer of snow on the ice and feel the odd movement when the boots and shifting a little bit to one side or the other as you walk through it. So I’m really grateful that I get to see these pictures, thanks to your braving of the elements. I love the color combination of warm pastels and cool blue ice.
Thanks, Alex. The lakes do offer some unique opportunities, but the conditions aren’t always so comfortable as you note. I don’t have to avoid cactus spines or rattlesnakes, of course. And one of the nicer things – rarely any people. 🙂
The cactus spines are not a problem if one is just careful (ahem)… especially with those nasty cholla cacti (ahem)… 😛
People accumulate at the hot-spots and popular hikes, just like everywhere else, but luckily all places have to offer so much more! I rarely see any other people on MY desert hikes… 😉
The photo is a beauty and really transmits the cold feeling despite the beautiful warm tones in the sky. I’m guessing it was pretty cold out there that day.
Your guess would be right! 🙂 Thanks Howard.
Yes, time to build up your cold tolerance. That almost seems impossible for me. Thank you for a very informational post. I learned a few more things about your lakes, even did a bit of research. That image is beautiful and yes it does give the illusion of and endless horizon. By the way I love your frozen landscapes gallery! Spent a bit of time there! Thanks! Stay warm!
It is getting harder each year for some reason. And even though I *Know* there is always something different to be seen, sometimes it is a barrier to get up the motivation. Hopefully your research yielded something? I know I seem to pick up little things now and then I thought I knew, but didn’t really.
Glad you enjoyed the visit -which I appreciate time and time again.
That is quite nice. We are actually getting an abundance of precipitation here, which has become a rarer treat for us in Socal.
abundance indeed! A bit too much all at once I’d say.